Become A Homeowner

If you're willing to work hard for it, we're willing to help.

We promise it's hard and we promise it's worth it.

If you have an income that is considered low-income, currently live in a substandard home in Kanawha or Putnam County, and are willing to partner, you might qualify to own a home through Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program.

While the process isn’t speedy, if you successfully complete our program you will have the opportunity to own your own home for a lower monthly payment than you might pay to rent even a substandard home.

A good place to start is with this quiz to find out if you’re qualified to become a Habitat for Humanity Partner.

Step 2: Schedule an appointment to review your application

Then, we’ll sit down and chat.

Once the application is complete and the information on the checklist is gathered, contact Homeownership Director Anne Plott to set an appointment to meet and review your application for completeness. The adult applicants will be asked to bring to that meeting documentation of their income sources (pay stubs, award letters, child support documents, etc.), receipts for rent and utility payments and other monthly expenditures, and tax returns.

Call Anne Plott at 304.720.0141 ext. 12 to set up an appointment.

Step 3: Your application will be reviewed by our team.

Yes, waiting can be the hard part.

Once your application is complete and all your documentation is together, we look at it to see if you meet our basic qualification guidelines. If so, your application is sent to the Homeowner Selection Committee. Then the Homeowner Selection volunteers will arrange home visits where they will collect the rest of the information necessary to make a decision to accept you into the program.

Applications are reviewed in the annual quarter following their submission. The quarters are January – March, April – June, July – September and October – December.

So, if you submit an application during the first quarter (Jan-Mar) you won’t hear back until sometime during the second quarter (Apr-June).

It’s not a fast process, but nothing worth waiting for is, right?

Step 4: If all goes well, we'll become partners! But, that's just the start...

It’s time to get down to work. Hard. Work.

When Habitat and homebuyer join teams, it’s still about 12-15 months before the homebuyer’s house is complete.

When a partnership is established between a homebuyer and Habitat for Humanity, close cooperation by both parties with rights and responsibilities on each side is a requirement. Successful partnerships are built on Honesty, Mutual Respect and a Willing Attitude. Below you will find the requirements of that partnership if you are approved during our selection process.

Complete least 250 hours of Sweat Equity for each adult that will be living in the house. The required Sweat Equity hours consist of:

Complete Master Homeowner Education Program: This is designed to teach, inform and empower participants to become proud, property-owning members of their community. These classes give the future homeowner the knowledge and understanding required to maintain the house inside and out, keep it healthy and secure and how important good neighborhood relations are. Financial, legal and insurance needs and responsibilities are included in this program.

Complete Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University: This is a 9 week course that is held in the evenings. The cost is $75.00 for the course materials.

Working on the construction site.

Attend Homebuyer Orientation

Down Payment: May be paid in lump sum or installments.

We work with you to build the foundation you need to own and maintain your new home.

Habitat Stories

Non-Proselytizing Policy

Habitat for Humanity Non-Proselytizing Policy Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations (HFH) will not proselytize. Nor will HFH work with entities or individuals who insist on proselytizing as part of their work with HFH. This means that HFH will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must (i) adhere to or convert to a particular faith or (ii) listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.